A Healthy A magazine for Sinai Hospital, Grace Medical & Levindale DoseFall 2020 5th Annual Mammothon HELPS WOMEN TAKE CHARGE OF BREAST HEALTH Also in this issue: Open for Care Expanded OB/GYN & Pediatric Services Lung Cancer Screening Welcome | Daniel Blum Dear Friends, I began my healthcare career as a paramedic, and in that line of work I learned the importance of providing timely, expert and compassionate care. It’s a mindset that still drives me to this day in my role as president of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and Grace Medical Center. One of my greatest priorities since arriving in April has been making sure that you and your family know that we are always here to provide whatever care you need, even during this pandemic. Yes, COVID-19 has changed things, but our incredible front line workers and leaders have responded swiftly and intelligently to keep you—and all of our patients—safe and healthy. “We will get you the care you need From pediatrics to orthopedics, urgent care to primary care, our full safely so that you can continue to suite of healthcare services are open and accepting patient visits, be there for all the people who are whether in office or via telehealth. counting on you.” Our NEW community magazine, A Healthy Dose, will provide you with information about our ongoing efforts to bring you high quality, safe A Healthy Dose is published by the Marketing care. Scheduled to be delivered to your mailbox three times a year, I Department at LifeBridge Health hope this new publication will make it easier for you to stay connected Grace Medical Center to our hospitals and discover all the new and innovative ways we’re Board of Directors Officers here to help you live your healthiest life. Jonathan N. Davidov, Chairman Dennis Weinman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer I’d like to thank you for welcoming me so warmly into this community & Secretary over the last several months. And, just as importantly, I'd like to remind you to never put off taking care of your health. Whether it’s Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital time for your screening mammogram, colonoscopy or your child’s Board of Directors Officers Howard Perlow, Chair annual check-up—or if you’re simply feeling that something isn’t quite Michele Shermak, M.D., Vice Chair right—we will get you the care you need safely so that you can continue Robert Smelkinson, Secretary to be there for all the people who are counting on you. Keith Attman, Treasurer Sinai Hospital Board of Directors Officers Jonathan N. Davidov, Chairman Donald Himelfarb, Vice Chairman Daniel Blum Dennis H. Weinman, Secretary President, Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Center David Goldner, Treasurer Senior Vice President, LifeBridge Health Michael A. Gaines, Assistant Secretary Jay Steinmetz, Assistant Treasurer Marketing Brian Deffaa, Chief Marketing Officer The goal of A Healthy Dose is to educate our readers about subjects and events Jill Bloom, Director of Marketing Communications relevant to their health and wellness and the programs and services LifeBridge Health provides. It is not meant as medical advice or as a substitute for a private & Execution consultation with your physician. Please contact your physician regarding any Selena Brewer Mowery, Director of Marketing specific medical concerns or treatments. & Public Relations Jaime Ridgley, Marketing & Public Relations Specialist Let us know! Alexiana Gaither, Marketing Coordinator We want to hear from you. If you have ideas, comments or suggestions, send them to: LifeBridge Health Marketing | 10 Crossroads, Suite 208 | Owings Mills, MD 21117 Production or e-mail: [email protected] Howard Korn, Photography Scott Wendler, Photography We look forward to your comments! Devaney & Associates, Inc., Copy, design & production 410-601-5022 | TTY: 410-521-2531 | lifebridgehealth.org/sinai Contents | Fall 2020 6 2 8 Features In Brief 2 Open for Care Welcome New Providers 4 We've safely reopened all the healthcare services LifeBridge Health Named Official your family depends on. They just might look a little Healthcare Provider for Loyola different now. University Maryland Student-Athletes 5 6 Taking Charge Tips for Remote Learning 10 LifeBridge Health's fifth annual Mammothon helps women be proactive about their breast health. LifeBridge Health & Fitness 11 8 Lung Cancer Screening: Who Should New Board Members Appointed 12 Get One—And Why Grace Medical Center Expands Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death OB/GYN & Pediatric Services 13 in the United States, can be a silent killer. Celebrating a Huge Milestone Screenings can help with early detection. for the Tiniest Patients 14 Telehealth Psychiatric Care for Older Adults 15 ON THE COVER: Staying as positive as possible helped Linda Maloney during her breast cancer journey. "As soon as I was diagnosed, my care team Calendar of Events 16 had a plan and we kept moving." Sinai Hospital, Grace Medical & Levindale | 1 As the world tries to take control of COVID-19, LifeBridge Health has safely resumed all the healthcare services your family depends on. They just might look a little different now. 2 | A Healthy Dose Fall 2020 Caring for Our Most If the thought of seeking out medical care makes you a little nervous Vulnerable Community these days, Daniel Blum, president of Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Members Center, wants you to know that he understands. “So many people are feeling insecure, not knowing what to expect,” he says. “But I am here While Levindale Hebrew Geriatric working at Sinai every day, and it’s just about the safest place you can be.” Center and Hospital cares for those Indeed, at Sinai Hospital and across the entire LifeBridge Health most vulnerable to COVID-19—patients system, a sense of normalcy—or at least a new normal—is returning in long-term, rehabilitative or high- intensity care—the hospital’s response as virtually all healthcare services, including elective surgeries and to the pandemic has been incredibly outpatient services, have resumed and readjusted in response to the well-received, earning a 91 percent COVID-19 pandemic. patient satisfaction score (versus an 88 “Do our hospitals feel different? Definitely,” says Leslie Simmons, chief percent organizational benchmark) between March and June. operating officer and executive vice president for LifeBridge Health. “Areas look sparser because some furnishings have been removed. Key to Levindale’s success has been There are social distancing circles on the floor. Common areas like the finding innovative ways to keep cafeterias have limited hours and limited seating. And every single patients and families feeling connected, person is wearing—at minimum—a mask or face shield. But the despite state guidelines continuing to ban visitors within the facility. community’s feedback has been very good. People can see that we’re Measures have included providing taking every precaution and that our recovery is being managed in a iPads so that patients can enjoy regular very responsible manner.” video chats with family; increasing one- One of the most well-received changes this summer was the re- on-one patient and staff sessions with mental health-enhancing services like admittance of visitors into Sinai Hospital. Under the new visitor policy, music therapy; and building a state- most admitted patients are allowed one visitor per day. Visitors must be approved outdoor visitors garden where 18 or older, pass a temperature and symptom screening before entering, loved ones can see each other during and wear a mask for the duration of their visit. pre-scheduled times. “It is such a stress for patients to not have their family with them when “All visitors must be screened of course,” they’re in the hospital,” says Simmons. “Once we knew that our COVID says Levindale President and Chief numbers were down and our personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies Operating Officer Deborah Graves, “but were up, safely allowing visitors back in became a priority for us.” the garden has proven to be a really beautiful way for our patients to connect As news about COVID-19 changes frequently, the LifeBridge Health with their families once again.” COVID response teams meet several times a week to review the latest To learn more or schedule a visit, go to literature, examine best practices that are emerging around the world lifebridgehealth.org/levindale and click the and monitor daily hospital dashboards to stop potential Levindale Family Website button. spikes before they happen. “Don’t put off your health. Schedule your appointments and your screenings, and get urgent care if you need us,” Blum urges. “We will remain vigilant about this virus, even long after things appear to be safe. Please continue to wear a mask whenever you are in public, maintain an ample distance from others and wash your hands thoroughly. And please get the annual flu shot unless you have a contraindication to the vaccination." Stay Informed. Stay Safe. Go to lifebridgehealth.org/coronavirus to view our latest visitor policy updates, find COVID-19 testing locations, donate plasma and more. Sinai Hospital, Grace Medical & Levindale | 3 Welcome New Providers At LifeBridge Health, we are always expanding our scope of care to meet the growing needs of the community. We welcome the following physicians to our expert team: Asha Alex, M.D., Rheumatology Asha Alex, M.D., is a board-certified rheumatologist who received her medical education from Amrita School of Medicine in India, her internal medicine residency from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and her rheumatology fellowship from Georgetown University Hospital and the D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Her areas of interest include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, myositis, gout, vasculitis and spondyloarthritis. Dr. Alex sees patients at 2435 W. Belvedere Ave., Suite 22, Baltimore. To make an appointment, call 410-601-8389.